Apparatus for cleaning tanks and the like



y o, 1938. c. HARD ET A]. 2,116,935

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed oct. 10, 1952 5shets-sheei 1 -CLAPE RI HARD HAROi'D M. P0711 ATTORNEY 7 May 10, 1938..c. RICHARD ET AL 2,115,935

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1932 sSheets-Shem 2 INVENTOPS tlAmrpmwwv Waa M A'ITORNEY May 10, 1938. c.RICHARD ET AL 2,116,935

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1952 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS C LAQE lP/CHAQD HAleoLoMPu'ru ill/M MM May in,1938 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Clare Richard, LosAngeles, and Harold M. Ruth, Huntington Park, Calii., assignors, bydirect and mesne assignments, to The Pyrate Gorporation of Nevada, acorporation of Nevada Application October 10, 1932, Serial No. 637,028

11 Claims.

This invention has to do in a general way with devices for washing theinterior of tanks, and is more particularly related to devices of theclass described which are especially adapted for use in washing theinterior of tank cars.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that it is necessary toclean tank cars periodically, and there are various features connectedwith the washing of the interior of these tanks which requires specialequipment. In the first place the tanks may have contained gasoline orsome other liquid, the vapors of which are inflammable and toxic. It is,therefore, necessary that the apparatus employed be such that it doesnot require an operator at a point where he is exposed to the fumes orvapors driven from the tank while the washing apparatus is in operation.

In recent practice attempts have been made to wash tank cars by means ofa spray or nozzle which is lowered into the car through the manhole, thesupporting means for the nozzle being constructed so that it may bemoved for directing the spray into various positions in the car. Onesuch type of apparatus is constructed so as to be manually operated fromabove the car. Such a device is most unsatisfactory, due to the factthat the operator is continuously exposed to the vapors and fumes comingfrom the car during the washing process, and further due to the factthat the device will not systematically and thoroughly wash every partof the tank. The use of a motor for turning the spray is unsatisfactorydue to the limited space in which the device must be installed andoperated. It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention toproduce a device of the class described in which the washing stream orspray is projected into' the car from a rotatable nozzle, such nozzlebeing adapted to rotate in a substantially vertical plane and associatedwith means for turning the nozzle bodily during its rotation about avertical axis, such turning ovement being automatically eflected by therotation of the nozzle.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that the tank on a tankcar is provided with a dome having a manhole, and it is through thismanhole that the apparatus, contemplated, by this invention, is loweredand supported in the tank. In view of the fact that the tanks may varyin diameter and the domes may vary in height, it becomes a furtherobject of this invention to produce a nozzle support which is verticallyadjustable and may be locked in various positions of verticaladjustment.

As was pointed out above, the nozzle unit, contemplated by thisinvention, rotates in a vertical plane and turns about a vertical axis,and further that the unit is suspended through the dome. In view of thisconstruction it will be seen that the periphery of the dome itself maynot receive a thorough washing action, and since this surface is theonly surface in the car which is not directly exposed to the spray inthe device of our invention, it is a further object of this invention toprovide the device with a deflecting member arranged so as to direct aportion of the vertically directed stream angularly into the dome andagainst the interior surface thereof.

The device of this invention is provided with a cover plate for themanhole which has clamping means adapted for use on manholes of variousdiameter and with manhole flanges of various widths.

The cover plate also has an opening to provide a vent for the escape forthe vapors and fumes, such opening being associated with baiile means toprevent the throwing of the washing liquid from the tank as the nozzlestraverse their vertical positions.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the provision ofvisible means for indieating, at a point above the tank, the rotation ofthe nozzle about its axis and the rotation of the nozzle unit about thevertical axis.

The general construction of the device contemplated by this inventioncomprises a cover plate adapted to fit over the manhole of the tank,such cover plate being provided with an opening and means therein forsupporting a vertical conduit or pipe. This pipe or conduit is providedwith a thrust bearing which supports, what we may term, a sleeve, thelower end of which has an angular nozzle feed pipe which feeds liquid toand acts as a bearing for a rotatable nozzle unit. The nozzle unit isassociated with means for holding same upon its bearing.

It is a further feature of this invention that the thrust bearing ispositioned inside of the tank so that the tank receives any liquid whichmay leak through the bearing.

The details in the construction of a preferred form of our invention,together with other objects attending its production, will be bestunderstood from the following description of the ac-- companyingdrawings which are chosen for illustrative purposes only, and in which-Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a tank car showing a preferred form ofour invention mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view with parts broken away illustrating thedetails in the construction of a preferred form of our invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken in a plane represented by the line 3-3 inFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial elevation which may be considered as having beentaken in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken in a plane represented by the line5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken in a plane represented by the line6-6 in Fig. 5;

' Fig 7 is a fragmentary elevation which may be considered as havingbeen taken in the direction of the arrow 1 in Fi 2:

Fig. 8 is a plan section taken in the plane represented by the line 8--8in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a partial section taken in a plane represented by the line 3-9in Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary inverted plan view taken in the direction ofthe arrow III in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a plan section taken in a plane represented by the line il-lI in Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view with parts broken away showing a modifiedform of our invention;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view with parts broken away whichmay be considered as having been taken in the direction of the arrow l3in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is an inverted plan view taken in a plane represented by theline I4-l4 in Fig. 13.

More particularly describing the invention as herein illustrated,reference letter A indicates a tank car having a tank B provided with adome C through the manhole of which a cleaning or washing device D issuspended. As will be seen from Fig. 2, the dome O has a manhole E whichis provided with a downwardly extending flange F. In addition to thedome the tank is provided with an opening G through which the washliquid drains from the tank.

Reference numeral Ii indicates a cover plate or cover member which ismounted over the manhole E, which is provided with the central openingl2, and a peripheral flange I3. The flange -I3 is provided to preventany liquid which may leak from parts above the cover from running ontothe outer surface of the doom or tank, such liquid being directed intothe tank through the opening l2.

Reference numeral l4 indicates web plates which are mounted on the coverplate I l forming through one of the flanges l3 and is threaded into theother.

The lower end portion of the main feed conduit 2| is provided with, whatwe may term, a bearing flange 25, such flange forming a race for rollerbearings 26 which support a collar 21 threaded in the upper end of abell 23 formed on the upper end of a sleeve member or rotatable conduitsection 29.

The section 29 is shown as being formed in two parts threaded togetherand carries at its lower end a T-member 30. One opening of the T-member33 receives a nozzle feed pipe 3!. This nozzle feed pipe constitutes abearing for the hub portion 32 of a nozzle member 33. In this form ofour invention, the nozzle member 33 consists of two diametricallydisposed nozzles 33a and 3312, such nozzles having tips 34a and 34barranged so as to eject their streams at an angle for rotating thenozzle member upon the hub in the general direction of the arrow N. Thenmzle member is secured upon the nozzle feed pipe by means of a bushingor cap 35, and the feed pipe is provided with a plurality of apertures36 situated in the plane of rotation of the nozzles, the hub of thenozzle member being provided with an annular channel 31 so that thenozzles are at all times in internal communication with the apertures inthe nozzle feed pipe.

From the construction so far described it will be seen that when awashing liquid, such as water under pressure. is delivered into the main-feed pipe 2| through the connection 23 andthe T- member 22, that suchliquid will be delivered to the nozzle member 33 and that the ejectionof such liquidwill effect a rotation of the nozzle member.

It was pointed out as a primary object of this invention to provide adevice of the class described which utilizes the rotation of the nozzlemember about a substantially horizontal axis for the purpose of turningthe nozzle member as a unit about a vertical axis. In this form of ourinvention the rotation of the nozzle member as a unit about a verticalaxis is effected by turning the sleeve member or rotatable conduitsection on the bearings 26.

The means for effecting such turning movement consist of a shaft 40which extends through a packing nut 4! in one end of the T-member 33 andthrough the bushing or cap which holds the nozzle hub on the nozzle feedpipe. The end 42 of the shaft which extends through the cap II spmerwhich supports split 11 member is bent so as to lie in the path ofrotation of the l5. The split collar member I5 is provided along itsdivision line with outwardly extending flanges l6, such flanges formingthe bearing .for the pin I! which supports a pinion gear l8 and isprovided onits extending end with a crank l9.

The pinion gear Ilengages rack teeth 20 on the periphery of a main feedpipe on fixed conduit 2|. This main feed pipe orfixed conduit isprovided on its upper end with a T-connection 22 which receives a hoseor any other suitable type of' conduit 23 for delivering a wash liquidinto the .main feed pipe.

It will be apparent from. the construction so far described that themeans of supporting the main feed-conduit in the split collar l5 permitsvertical adjustment of the main feed conduit and its associated parts;and for the purpose of clamping the split collar on the main feedconduit for locking the latter in, various fixed positions of adjustmentwe provide a; bolt or another suitable member indicated at 22' whichextends nozzle member. 33, thus during the rotation of the nozzle member33 the shaft is rotated correspondingly. The end 43 of the shaft 43,which extends through the packing nut 4|, is formed or provided with aneccentric which is received in a collar 45 attached to a pitman rod 46.The upper end of the pitman rod is bent so as to extend through the end41 of a bell crank 43 which is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 49formed or mounted on the upper end portion of, the sleeve member orrotatable conduit section 29.

Reference numeral it indicates a ratchet wheel which is rigidly mountedupon the fixed conduit section or the main feed pipe 2| The ratchetwheel 50 is provided with ratchet teeth SI and such teeth are adapted tobe engaged by the upright finger 41' on the bell crank 43. The bellcrank 43 is supported on the bracket so as .to have a yieldable outwardmovement whichis permitted by the coil spring 52.

It will be seen that as the shaft 49 is rotated 2,110,935 by the nozzlemember 33 the pitman rod 46 receives a reciprocating motion .which isimparted to the bell crank ll. Since the ratchet wheel 50 is rigid andthe bell crank is supported on a structure which is rotatable relativeto the ratchet wheel, this swinging movement of the bell crank resultsin a step by step turning motion being imparted to the sleeve member orrotatable conduit section 29 through bracket 49. This action isindicated by the dotted line positions of the bell crank and the bracket49 as shown in Figs.

7 and 8.

It was pointed out in the early part of the specification as one of theobjects of this invention to provide means forindicating both therotation of the nozzle member and the turning motion of the sleevemember or rotatable conduit section at a visible point above the tank.Such indication in this form of our invention is obtained by providingthe shaft 40 with an eccentric section situated substantially on theaxis of the vertical conduit formed of sections 2| and 29. The eccentricportion 55 is received in a collar 56 which is attached to the lower endof the rod 51 which extends upwardly through the vertical conduit andhas its upper end projected through a packing gland 58 where it isprovided with a needle or other suitable indicator 59.

. As the shaft 40 is rotated directly from the nozzle the rod 51 isreciprocated once for each rotation of the nozzle and inasmuch as therod is directly connected to the shaft, it will be seen that the rod, inaddition to this reciprocating motion, is rotated directly with thesleeve member, thus the speed of the rotation of the upper end of therod 51 indicates the speed at which the nozzle unit is being turnedabout a vertical axis and the speed of reciprocation indicates the speedof rotation of the nozzle about the nozzle feed pipe. I

As was pointed out above, means are provided on the device, contemplatedby this invention, for automatically governing the speed of operation ofthe nozzle. Such speed governing means in this form of our invention arebest illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6 and comprise a sprocket wheel 60which is mounted on the nozzle hub and which drives a sprocket chain I,which, in turn, drives a sprocket pully 52 mounted on, what we ma term,a governor shaft 63. v

The governor shaft 83 is supported in a bearing 54 which is formed on acollar mounted on the rotatable conduit section 29'. The opposite end ofthe governor shaft 63 is threadedas indicated at 65'.

Reference numeral 66 indicates a diamond nut mounted on the threadedportion 85' in close proximity to the endof the shaft bearing 64. Thisnut is adjusted so that a slight rotation thereof in the threadedportion 65' will bring the same into engagement with the face of thebear- 70 diametrically opposite ends of this governor plate 61 are bentinwardly asindicated at 69 and 69' to form bearing ears or flanges whichare provided with apertures for the reception of guide pins 10 and 10'formed on the outer ends of weight members II and II respectively which3 extend through apertures I3 and 13' on opposite ends of the diamondnut I8. Compression springs 15 and II are interposed between the endflanges 69 and 88' and the outer ends of the respective weight membersII and. II. It will thus be seen that during the rotation of thegovernor plate 61 by the sprocket wheel 82, the centrifugal action willthrow the weights outwardly against the action oi. the compressionsprings and when a predetermined speed has been reached the centrifugalforce is suflicient to overcome the force of the springs to such anextent that the diamond nut 88 is rotated into engagement with thebearing, thus retarding the movement of the associated parts. As themovement is retarded the springs force the weights toward the center andthe -nut is rotated away from the hearing so that the governor providesa simple and accurate means for controlling the speed of the operationof the unit.

Reference numeral 16 indicates a bore hole which may be provided in thebearing and in the conduit section 29' to permit water lubrication ofthe shaft 83 if so desired.

, Reference numeral 18 indicates a guard member which is mounted on therotating member to protect the governor and the pitman bar.

In order that we may provide ample ventilation through the cover plateand at the same time prevent the spray being thrown therefrom as thenozzles traverse their vertical positions, we provide, what may betermed, a baiile plate which is mounted on the collar member indownwardly spaced relation with the opening l2.

Reference numeral 8| indicates nipples which are provided with caps 82and which may be used for the purpose of delivering steam or other fluidinto the tank when the unit is installed.

For the purpose of making the cover member adaptable for various sizesand types of manholes, we provide a novel form of clamping meansgenerally indicated by reference numeral 84, such clamping meanscomprising a plurality of threaded collars 85 formed on the covermember, such collars receiving threaded pins 86, the lower ends of suchpins being provided with tapered wings 81 which are adapted to engagethe flange F. The pins are advanced into clamping engagement with thethreaded portion by wing nuts indicated at 88. i

Reference numeral 89 indicates a conical deflecting member which ismounted on the fixed conduit section in a position above the path of thenozzle member when it is traversing a vertical plane so that a part ofthe spray coming from the'nozzle as it is projected upwardly isdeflected angularly into the dome C so as to thoroughly wash the innerwall of the dome.

In Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive I show a modified form of construction whichis designed to operate in the same general way as the construction justdescribed but in which the means for turning the rotatable pipe sectionabout its axis areslightly different from those described above. In thiserence numeral IM.

4 anepas ing liquid. The lower end is provided with a thrust bearingindicated at I which is the same as the bearing shown in Fig. 2 whichsupports a rotatable pipe section generally indicated by ref- The lowerend of the rotatable pipe section carries an angularLv disposed nozzlefeed pipe it! upon which a nozzle I00, similar to the nozzle member 33,is rotatably supported.

o The hub portion of the nozzle member ill carrles a beveled gear I01whichengages a beveled gear I" mounted on the lower end of a pin orshaft III! which is shown as extending axially through the verticalconduit section and through a packing gland III in the T -member III.The shaft i0! is free to rotate relative to the conduit and is supportedtherein in any suitablemanner such as by meansof a bearing collar I09.The beveled gear I0! is formed with or keyed to a spur gear 2 whichengages another spur gear 3 mounted on the lower end of the shaft IIwhich is supported in bearings H5 and iii, such bearings-being supportedfrom the rotatable conduit section I by means of brackets ill and H5.The shaft H4 is provided on its upper end with an eccentric III whichcarries a pawl member Iii, such pawl member being pressed into yieldableengagement with teeth I20 on a ratchet wheel III by means of a tensionspring I22. The

=80 ratchet wheel i2l, like the corresponding wheel II in Fig. 2, isrigidly secured on the fixed conduit section iii. It will be seen fromthis construction that during the rotation of the nozzle member I", theshaft Ill receives a correspond- .36 ing rotation which, through theeccentric lll, re-

ciprocates the pawl relative to the ratchet wheel and imparts a step bystep turning movement to the rotatable conduit section I. The upper endportion of the shaft I09 provides an indicator for indicating the speedof this last mentioned rotative movement.

Reference numeral I25 indicates a governor which is similar in operationto the governor shown and described in connection with Figs. 2, 4,

5, and 6.

. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the devicecontemplated by this invention is of simple form and construction; it isentirely automatic in its operation; it provides am- .50 ple ventilationfor the tank without spillage over the outside of the tank; it isconstructed so as to thoroughly cleanse all points on the interiorsurface of the tank and the tank dome; it may be readily adjusted forspeed of operation; and is .55 adapted for use on tanks and domes ofvarious operated by the rotation of said nozzle member for imparting onestep of rotation to said conduit about its vertical axis for eachrotation of said nozzle member about its horizontal axis.

"2. A device for cleaning tanks and the like 35 embodying: a verticalfeed pipe; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said pip ahorizontally extending nomle feed pipe angularly mounted on said sleeve;a reaction nomle member rotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe;means operable by the rotation of said nozzle 5 member forintermittently turning said sleeve member on said vertical pipe.

3. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed pipe;a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said main feed pipe; 1 aratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said main feed pipe above said sleeve;a bracket on said sleeve below said ratchet wheel; a pawl member on saidbracket with one end engaging said ratchet; a nozzle member mounted onsaid sleeve is for rotation about a horizontal axis; a nozzle on saidnozzle member arranged so as to rotate said nozzle member during thepassage of a pressure fluid therethrough; and means operated by therotation of said nozzle member for moving said so pawl member relativeto the teeth on said ratchet wheel.

4. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed pipe;a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said main feed pipe 26 aratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said main feed pipe above said sleeve;a bracket ongsaid sleeve below said ratchet wheel; a bell crank;yieldable means securing said bell crank to said bracket with one armengaging said ratchet wheel; a T member on the lower end-of said sleeve;a nozzle feed pipe in said T member; a reaction nozzle member rotatablymounted on said nozzle feed pipe; a shaft extending through saidTmember; means for rotating said shaft from. said nozzle; an eccentricon said shaft; and a pitman rod connecting said eccentric with said bellcrank.

5. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed.pipe; a sleeve rotatably 40 mounted on the lower end of said main feedpipe;

a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said main feed pipe above saidsleeve; a bracket on said sleeve below said ratchet wheel; a bell crank;yieldable means securing said bell crank to said bracket 45 with one armengaging said ratchet wheel; a T member on the lower end ofsaid sleeve;a nozzle feed pipe in said T member; a reaction nozzle member rotatablymounted on saidnozzle feed pipe; a shaft extending through said Tmember; so means for rotating said shaft from said nozzle; an eccentricon the end of said shaft; a pitman rod connecting said eccentric withsaid bell crank; another eccentric formed on said shaft on the axis ofsaid sleeve; a collar on said last menll tioned eccentric; and anindicator shaft extending upwardly through said sleeve and said mainfeed pipe, said indicator shaft having a projecting end exposed above.the top of said main feed pipe.

6. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed pipe;a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said main feed pipe;

a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said main feed pipe above saidsleeve; bearing brackets on said ll .last mentioned means comprising apinion on the lower end of said shaft, a reaction nozzle mounted forrotation about a substantially horizontal axis is on the lower end orsaid sleeve. and gear means driven by said nozzle and engaging thepinion on said shaft.

7. A liquid spray of the class described embodying: a fixed conduit; arotatable conduit mounted on said fixed conduit in coaxial relationtherewith; a nozzle member mounted on said rotatable conduit forrotation about an axis which is normal to the axis of said fixed androtatable conduits; and means extending into the path of the nozzles andoperable by the rotation of said nozzle member for turning saidrotatable conduit step by step about its axis, said conduits and saidnozzle member all being in internal communication with each other andsaid nozzle member having tips arranged to propel the same during thepassage of liquid therethrough.

8. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed pipeadapted to extend through the manhole of the tank and verticallytherebelow; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said pipe; anozzle feed pipe angu larly mounted on said sleeve; a nozzle memberrotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe; a nozzle on said nozzlemember arranged so as to rotate said nozzle member during the flow of apressure fluid therethrough; and means including a member engaging saidnozzle and adapted to rotate therewith for imparting step by stepturning movement to said sleeve from said pipe.

9. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a vertical mainfeed pipe; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said main feedpipe; a horizontally extending nozzle feed pipe mounted on said sleeve;a nozzle member rotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe; reactionnozzles on said nozzle member; means operated by said nozzle member forturning said sleeve on said vertical pipe: and a conical ringsurrounding said main feed pipe and positioned a substantial distanceabove said nozzle member for angularly deflecting a part of the liquidstream projected upwardly from said nozzle member.

10. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a conduit; meansfor rotatably suspending said conduit on a substantially vertical axis;a nozzle member mounted on said conduit in internal communicationtherewith for rotation about a horizontal axis; means for delivering apressure liquid into said conduit for projection from said nozzlemember; means operated by said pressure liquid for rotating said nozzlemember about its horizontal axis; and means operable during the rotationof said nozzle member about its horizontal axis for automaticallyimparting one step of rotation to said conduit about its vertical axisfor each rotation of said nozzle member about its horizontal axis.

11. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a vertical feedpipe, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said feed pipe, ahorizontal nozzle feed pipe mounted on said sleeve, a nozzle memberrotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe, said nozzle being soconstructed as to deliver a substantially compact stream, means forcontinuously rotating said nozzle member, and means operable by therotative movement of said nozzle member for intermittently turning saidsleeve member on said vertical pipe while discharging said stream tosweep the wall of said tank in successive defined paths, said turningmovement being in an amount such as to produce overlapping of the pathsof said streams upon successive rotative movements of said nozzle.

CLARE RICHARD. HAROLD M. RUTH.

